Lewis and Clark downs U-Hi for third

TACOMA – The difference between third and sixth places at the State 4A girls basketball tournament between Lewis and Clark against University came down to a loose ball scramble between each team’s senior star.

Titan Jami Bjorklund was whistled for a foul with 6 seconds remaining in the game and Briann January made both free throws for a 47-45 LC victory in the fourth meeting between the team teams and final high school game between good friends.

The two Greater Spokane League teams both finished with 26-3 records, their best ever, and split their season series. Third was the second-highest state finish ever for the Tigers and it was U-Hi’s second sixth-place trophy, the last coming 15 years ago.

Such was the 2005 state tournament where the littlest of things, not the least of them the judgement of those officiating the games, helped determine the fates of several teams.

In another situation, the play that sent January to the line would not have been called. Indeed, the official standing in front of the play let it go. The call came from across the court.

LC, trailing 45-42, used a double screen out front to free second cutter Lyndi Siedensticker for a game-tying 3-point shot with 32 seconds remaining. Bjorklund missed a following layin, but the Tigers turned the ball back to her at their end. As she turned it came loose and she and January dove for it, knocking the ball out of bounds.

The whistle ensued, January made the shots and LC took home the third-place plaque.

“Everyone knew they were going to trophy, but you know, third meant a lot to us,” said Tigers coach Jim Redmon. “We were rated third all year so someone knew what they were talking about..”

“We’ll look back on it someday and think that sixth place is a good accomplishment,” said Titans coach Mark Stinson after the game. “But right now it stings a little bit. You always want to win your last game. Only four teams get to do that.”

The Titans had led 25-14 with 19 seconds remaining until intermission. But in the second half the Titans scored only four field goals, the same as sophomore Ula Tauala on her way to 12, sharing team honors with January.

Two baskets came in the third quarter run as the Tigers took a 35-30 advantage. Two more came in the fourth, the last putting LC ahead 40-38.

“I wasn’t scared,” said Tauala, who two nights earlier had dental work done to replace a tooth knocked out in the game with Prairie. “This time I put it on line because it was Briann’s and Bryce (Bohlen)’s last game.”

Jami Bjorklund ended her career with an 18-point, eight rebound game. Next up for her is basketball at Gonzaga University.

“The game could have gone to anyone and we lost to a good team,” a tearful Bjorklund said. “Mostly I’m sad because all these girls on this team are my best friends. It’s sadder to leave them than to leave high school basketball.”

January’s prep career ended with the winning free throws. Next year she’ll be playing at Arizona State

“When you start basketball on the line and running you say it’s going to last forever and it seems it’s going to last forever,” January said. “But it’s over so quick.”

2A boys

Ken Swanger conceded that his Pullman Greyhounds played well for two quarters and the Cashmere Bulldogs played well for two quarters of their State 2A boys basketball tournament game for fourth and seventh places at Yakima

The problem for Pullman: The game went into overtime and the Bulldogs (23-4) dominated that period for a 59-52 win Saturday at the SunDome. Pullman finished 19-8.

“That was a great game between two very good basketball teams,” Swanger said. “Even when we were ahead, we knew they wouldn’t quit.”

The Bulldogs rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter behind Jon Gasbar and Michael Miller.

The duo sparked an 11-0 run over the last 3:42 of regulation. The Bulldogs outscored Pullman 31-14 during the final 12 minutes.

Matt Caples, son of Cashmere coach Miles Caples, had five of the Bulldogs’ 11 points in OT.

Coaches Caples and Swanger are longtime friends. The last time the Capleses were in Pullman, for a basketball camp at Washington State University, Caples had a chance to see the nearly-finished home Swanger has been building for the past two years.

Another coach’s son, Pullman sophomore J.T. Levenseller, led the Greyhounds with 18 points off the bench. The son of WSU football coach Mike Levenseller had 10 points while playing 10:47 in the first half. He helped the Greyhounds rally from a 12-4 deficit for a halftime tie.

“We had such a terrible start, we needed a lift and our young guys came off the bench and responded,’ Swanger said. “JT is going to be a special player for us.”

Cashmere’s Joe Boyle scored 14.

2A girls

Riverside 57, Chelan 54: Senior reserve guard Sarra Arras came off the bench to score all seven of her points in the fourth quarter, including two key 3-pointers and a free throw with seven seconds to go, as the Riverside Rams captured third place. It’s the Rams’ first state trophy in school history.